Electronic exposure dose meter and radiation handling operation management system employing the same

ABSTRACT

An electronic exposure dose meter and a radiation handling operation management system is capable of realizing real time exposure management. The radiation handling operation management system has monitoring unit receiving an exposure dose amount measured by an electronic exposure dose meter having a radiation detector, its counter circuit and a PHS transmission and reception antenna, from a plurality of transmission and reception base station installed in a radiation handling operation site through bidirectional communication with a central management section via an external management base station, and deriving position of user of the electronic exposure dose meter for collecting and displaying position and exposure dose amount of the user. The electronic exposure dose meter has a radiation detector, a counter circuit, a PHS antenna for bidirectional communication with a central management section. The electronic exposure dose meter generates an alarm in response to an instruction signal from the central management section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to an electronic exposuredose meter and a radiation handling operation management systememploying the same. More particularly, the invention relates to anelectronic exposure dose meter and a radiation handling operationmanagement system mounting a transmission and reception equipment, suchas a personal handy-phone system (PHS) on a personal or individualexposure dose meter, for utilizing personal positioning function of thePHS.

[0002] As prior art in radiation exposure management system, there is amanagement system employing an electronic exposure dose meter,implemented in nuclear power plant or the like. In such system, asreported in Fuji Jiho, Vol. 72, No. 6, pp 313-317 (1999), exposureinformation corrected through a door way gate to a radiation managementzone is transmitted to an exposure management section. In practice, adose meter is inserted into a gate in contact type, or non-contactcommunication is performed between the dose meter and the gate, forcollection of exposure information. Then, the collected exposureinformation is transferred to the exposure management section.

[0003] On the other hand, as disclosed in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 1-261802, there is an exposure management system employinga personal or individual exposure dose meter mounting an IC card forcareful exposure alarm management during radiation handling operation orcollection of detailed exposure trend information.

[0004] All of these prior arts set exposure management values in thedose meter per se to generate alarm (buzzer) when there is a likelihoodthat the exposure amount exceed the exposure management values, tonotify the condition to workers, for performing careful exposuremanagement. An aggregating process of the exposure dose amount afterradiation handling operation is performed by collecting exposureinformation through the gate at a time where the workers exit throughthe door way gate of the management zone.

[0005] On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.8-334563 discloses an environmental radiation monitoring system foremergency including a plurality of mobile units performing radiationamount measurement and a parent station performing data processing at aside remote from the mobile units, GPS position detecting devicesdetecting installation position of respective mobile units and datatransmission units for transmitting detected position data and measuredradiation amount date to the parent station.

[0006] The conventional exposure management systems disclosed in FujiJiho, Vo. 72, No. 6, pp. 313-317 (1999) and Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 1-261802 is mainly adapted to exposure management ofindividual holding the dose meter and is a system for real timemanagement with a management value of individual set in the dose meterper se. Namely, these conventional exposure management systems cannotperform exposure management of particular group of a plurality ofworkers in real time. Many of radiation handling operations are typicalto perform operation by a plurality of workers, such as several tensworkers to require exposure management of overall workers. Hereinafter,this will be referred to as planned exposure dose management ofoperation. Namely, in the conventional management system, a problem isencountered in that total exposure amount management of overalloperation can be done after at a time where the group of workers exitthe management zone, namely at a time of passing through the door waygate. Also, for each individual worker, since there is no means fortransmitting information from the management section, it has not beenpossible to provide instruction in case of emergency or in erroneousoperation in real time. Also, since it has been impossible to collectinformation about each individual worker concerning to which site theworker enters, how long the worker stayed the side, through which routethe worker reached the site. Thus, detailed radiation work analysis wasnot possible.

[0007] On the other hand, the environmental radiation monitoring systemfor emergency disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.8-334563 automatically measures an environmental radiation amount bytransmitting detected position data and measured radiation amount datain wireless manner. However, no consideration has been given forcollection of information about each individual worker concerning towhich site the worker enters, how long the worker stayed the side,through which route the worker reached the site. Thus, detailedradiation work analysis was not possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is a first object of the present invention to provide apractically useful electronic exposure dose meter and a radiationhandling operation management system which can realize real timeexposure management.

[0009] A second object of the present invention is to provide aradiation handling operation management system which can performdetailed radiation handling operation analysis by collecting informationof individual worker.

[0010] A third object of the present invention is to provide a radiationhandling operation management system which can provide instruction toworkers by collecting information of each individual worker.

[0011] According to the first aspect of the present invention, aradiation handling operation management system comprises:

[0012] monitoring unit receiving an exposure dose amount measured by anelectronic exposure dose meter having a radiation detector, its countercircuit and a PHS transmission and reception antenna, from a pluralityof transmission and reception base station installed in a radiationhandling operation site through bidirectional communication with acentral management section via an external management base station, andderiving position of user of the electronic exposure dose meter forcollecting and displaying position and exposure dose amount of the user.

[0013] According to the second aspect of the present invention anelectronic exposure dose meter comprises:

[0014] a radiation detector;

[0015] a counter circuit counting a radiation detection signal from theradiation detector;

[0016] a PHS antenna for bidirectional communication with a centralmanagement section; and

[0017] means for generating an alarm in response to an instructionsignal transmitted from the central management section.

[0018] According to the third aspect of the present invention, aradiation handling operation management system comprises:

[0019] monitoring unit deriving a position of a user of an electronicexposure dose meter by receiving an exposure dose amount measured by theelectronic exposure dose meter and transmitted through a plurality oftransmission and reception base station, on the basis of receptionsignals output from the plurality of transmission and reception basestation, and storing the position, the exposure dose amount and date andtime with correspondence therebetween.

[0020] In the preferred construction, the electronic exposure dose metermay generate an alarm, such as audible alarm, vibration and so on thebasis of information transmitted from the central management section viathe management base station.

[0021] The electronic exposure dose meter may further comprise anexternal input switch for notifying abnormality to the centralmanagement section.

[0022] The radiation handling operation management may include a displayunit installed in the central management section, which displays aposition of user of each electronic exposure dose meter at the radiationhandling operation side, a moving route and accumulated exposure doseamount of each individual or particular group on the basis of collecteddata of the position of the individual user of the electronic exposuredose meter or a plurality of users of the electronic exposure dosemeters. The position of user of each electronic exposure dose meter ormoving route of the user may be displayed on the basis of a CAD data ofthe radiation handling facility. The display unit may display aradiation dose rate distribution in the radiation handling operationsite on the basis of collected data of the position of the individualuser of the electronic exposure dose meter or a plurality of users ofthe electronic exposure dose meters.

[0023] The radiation handling operation management system may furthercomprise an on-site display unit in the radiation handling operationsite to display information equivalent to a display content of a displayunit installed in the central management section. Also, the radiationhandling operation management system may further comprise a beanie lightprovided in the radiation handling operation site for generating analarm upon entry of worker having no permission to enter into theradiation handling operation site to monitor through bidirectionalcommunication.

[0024] The radiation handling site and different external organizationmay be connected through internet or telephone circuit for monitoringcondition of radiation handling operation of the radiation handlingoperation site and providing instruction with a computer and a displayunit provided in the external organization. The radiation handlingoperation management system may directly provide instruction foroperation to a management section of particular site or radiationhandling operation site through the internet or telephone circuit.

[0025] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, aradiation handling operation management system comprises:

[0026] monitoring unit receiving an exposure dose amount measured by anelectronic exposure dose meter having a radiation detector, its countercircuit and a wireless communication unit, from a plurality oftransmission and reception base station installed in a radiationhandling operation site through bidirectional communication with acentral management section via an external management base station, andderiving position of user of the electronic exposure dose meter forcollecting and displaying position and exposure dose amount of the user.

[0027] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, anelectronic exposure dose meter comprises:

[0028] a radiation detector;

[0029] a counter circuit counting a radiation detection signal from theradiation detector;

[0030] a wireless communication unit for bidirectional communicationwith a central management section; and

[0031] means for generating an alarm in response to an instructionsignal transmitted from the central management section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The present invention will be understood more fully from thedetailed description given hereinafter and from the accompanyingdrawings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which,however, should not be taken to be limitative to the invention, but arefor explanation and understanding only.

[0033] In the drawings:

[0034]FIG. 1 is an illustration showing a construction of one embodimentof a radiation handling operation management system according to thepresent invention;

[0035]FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section showing a case where a radiationhandling facility is a nuclear power generation plant;

[0036]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a personal exposure dosemeter with a PHS communication function;

[0037]FIG. 4 is an illustration showing a hardware construction of a PHSdose meter;

[0038]FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of a radiation handlingoperation monitoring display on a monitoring apparatus in a centralmanagement station;

[0039]FIG. 6 is an illustration showing an example of display in thecase where information is transmitted to a site foreman in a radiationhandling site;

[0040]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration showing an example ofdisplay for monitoring overall nuclear power generation plant;

[0041]FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an example of display of amonitoring result of accumulated exposure amount per work group;

[0042]FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a nuclear medicine medicalsite;

[0043]FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an example of display of exposuremonitoring;

[0044]FIG. 11 is an illustration showing a construction of a system, inwhich a nuclear power generation plant site is linked with an externalorganization via an internet; and

[0045]FIG. 12 is a system diagram showing a construction of a system, inwhich a radiation handling facility other than nuclear power generationplant is linked with an external organization via an internet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0046] The present invention will be discussed hereinafter in detail interms of the preferred embodiment of an electronic exposure dose meterand a radiation handling operation management system according to thepresent invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In thefollowing description, numerous specific details are set forth in orderto provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will beobvious, however, to those skilled in the art that the present inventionmay be practiced without these specific details. In other instance,well-known structure are not shown in detail in order to avoidunnecessary obscurity of the present invention.

[0047] One embodiment of the radiation handling operation managementsystem according to the present invention will be discussed hereinafterwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. FIG. 1 is an illustration showing aconstruction of the shown embodiment of the radiation handling operationmanagement system. The radiation handling operation management system isconstructed with a plurality of radiation handling facilities 1, 2, 3and 4 having radiation management zone, such as nuclear power site,hospital and so forth, a plurality of external organization, such aseach business organization, each headquarter of company, disastercontrol center of national government or local government, a centralregistration center and so forth, and a communication network, such asinternet 9, telephone circuit 9 a and so forth performing informationcommunication between the radiation handling facilities and externalorganizations.

[0048] In each radiation handling facility 1, 2, 3 and 4, a radiationmanagement zone 10 as a zone to be radiation handling operation site anda general zone other than the radiation management zone are separated.In the radiation management zone 10, an electronic exposure dose meter20 with a PHS transmission and reception function (hereinafter referredto as PHS dose meter), which is carried by a radiation handling worker,an on-site base station 21 having antenna for communication with the PHSdose meter 20 and provided in the radiation handling operation site, anda PHS main unit 23 connected to an interior wiring network 22 as a PHScircuit network with the on-site base station 21. Also, a movablemonitoring unit 28 may be provided in the radiation management zone 10for monitoring exposure condition on the site or moving route of theworker or the like. In the general zone, a central operation room or thelike is provided. In the central operation room, a management basestation 24 having an antenna for communication with the PHS main unit23, a management terminal base station 25 connected to the managementbase station 24, a main computer 26 connected to the management terminalbase station 25, and a monitoring unit 27 connected to the main computer26 are installed. In each of the external organizations 5, 6, 7 and 8, amain computer 26 and a monitoring unit 27 connected to the main computer26 are installed.

[0049] By the PHS dose meter 20 carried by the radiation handling workerin the radiation management zone 10, an exposure dose amount of exposedradiation handling worker carrying the PHS dose meter 20 and a positioninformation indicative of a site where the radiation handling operationworker as will be discussed later, can be detected. The PHS dose meter20 has a bidirectional communication ability by means of PHS. Also, thePHS dose meter 20 also has a exposure alarm management function. Theseinformation is transmitted to the PHS main unit 23 through the on-sidebase station 21 in the radiation management zone 10 and the interiorwiring network 22 and is transmitted to the management base station 24provided in the general zone through the PHS main unit 23 and throughwire or PHS. The exposure management information and/or work managementinformation transmitted to the management base station 24 is transmittedto the management terminal base station 25, the main computer 26 and themonitoring unit 27 for analysis and display.

[0050] By constructing as set forth above, since the exposure managementinformation of the radiation handling worker in the radiation managementzone 10 and the work management information can be analyzed anddisplayed in real time by communication, the exposure condition and workcondition on the site can be monitored in the general zone in real time.Also, by receiving information from the movable monitoring unit 28,dynamic recognition of exposure condition per each working group duringradiation handling operation on the site and information collection canbe performed in real time.

[0051] Since the radiation handling facilities 1, 2, 3 and 4 areconnected to the external organizations 5, 6, 7 and 8 via the internet 9or the telephone circuit 9 a, monitoring and management informationduring radiation handling operation and condition of the radiationhandling site can be recognized in real time even in the externalorganizations 5, 6, 7 and 8 by operating the monitoring unit 27 in theexternal organization.

[0052]FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section showing a case where a radiationhandling facility is a nuclear power generation plant. In the nuclearpower generation plant, a nuclear reactor building 30 receiving anuclear reactor 51 and an auxiliary building 31 are radiation managementzone 10. In each floor of each building, a plurality of on-site basestations 21 are installed for establishing bidirectional communicationwith the PHS dose meters 33 carried by the workers 32, namely fortransmission 34 from the on-side base stations to the PHS dose meters 33and for transmission 35 from the PHS dose meters 33 to the on-side basestations 21.

[0053]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a personal exposure dosemeter with a PHS communication function. As shown in FIG. 3, the PHSdose meter 33 of the shown embodiment is provided with a radiationdetector 60 built therein, a LCD display portion 61 for displayingaccumulated exposure amount on out side thereof, a buzzer 62 generatingan alarm, a PHS transmission and reception antenna 63, an external inputswitch 64, a door way gate communication port 65. The buzzer 62 has avibration function. The external input switch 64 is used for permittingthe worker to communicate with the central management section underemergency or special condition. The door way gate communication port 65is provided both for communication with the PHS dose meter 20 and fordoor way management.

[0054]FIG. 4 shows a hardware construction of the PHS dose meter. Aradiation measuring system 70 measuring an exposure amount isconstructed with a radiation detector 60, an amplifier 71 and adiscrimination circuit 72. A voltage to be applied to the radiationmeasuring system 70 and an operation power source are supplied from abattery 73. A detection signal of radiation from the discriminationcircuit 72 is counted by a counter 74 for managing exposure trend dataand accumulated exposure amount from time to time by a data processingportion 77 having a computer 75 and a memory 76. The LCD display portion61, the buzzer 62 generating the alarm, the PHS transmission andreception antenna 63, the external input switch 64 and the door way gatecommunication port 65 are connected to the computer 75 via an input andoutput interface 78. The PHS dose meter of the construction set forthabove transmits the exposure trend data and/or the accumulated exposureamount of the radiation handling worker from time to time to the centralmanagement section on the basis of an information transmission commandsignal transmitted from the central management section to the PHStransmission and reception antenna 63.

[0055] Position detection of the worker is performed in the followingmanner. On both end sides of the floor 50 in the nuclear reactorbuilding 30, an on-site base station 21A and an on-site base station 21Bare installed. Since a PHS dose meter 33A carried by a worker 32A cancommunicate with both of the one-side base station 21A and the on-sitebase station 21B, the position thereof can be estimated from signalintensities received from both stations. Normally, since more than twoon-site base stations are provided in each floor, positioning precis ioncan be improved by using reception signals for position recognition. Bythis method, by recognition process to be performed by the computer inthe central operation room 42 or so forth outside of the radiationmanagement zone, the position information of the worker 32A is derived.The exposure amount at that timing is transmitted on the on-site basestation 21A. Then, the information is transmitted to a PHS main unit 37Avia a PHS circuit network 36 installed in the nuclear reactor building30 and is then transmitted to the management terminal base station 41(also referred to as central operation terminal base station 41) via anantenna 38 outside of the building or wire 39, and via the managementbase station 40 (also referred to as central operation base station 40).The exposure amount is stored in association with the positioninformation of the worker and date and time. By constructing as setforth above, moving route of the worker 32A on the radiation handlingoperation site and accumulated exposure amount can be monitored in realtime. In the monitoring unit 27, site information is displayed based ona CAD data of interior of the building and to perform a dosage ratedistribution display or exposure amount display per individual worker orper working group. These collected information are used as database forradiation handling operation analysis per each radiation handlingoperation.

[0056] By monitoring by the monitoring unit 27, when abnormality isdetected on individual worker or working group in the radiation handlingoperation site (strictly a condition possibly cause abnormality),instruction information is transmitted to the individual worker or tothe foreman of the radiation handling operation through backwardcommunication route, namely communication route through the managementterminal base station 41→the antenna 38 outside of the building→the PHScircuit network 36→the PHS main unit 37A→PHS circuit network 36→on-sidebase station 21A. Typically, the worker 32A on the wears a multilamellarcloth for antipollution purpose to cause difficulty in notifying theinformation by display panel (LCD display panel) of the PHS dose meter.Therefore, to the worker 32A, abnormal condition is notified by alarm orvibrator function provided in the PHS dose meter. On the other hand, tothe foreman, instruction information may be provided through the on-sidemonitoring unit 28 provided in the site or by telephone mode of the PHSdose meter.

[0057] On the other hand, it is also possible to display a displaycontent equivalent to that displayed on the display unit installed inthe central management section, by providing the on-side display unit inthe radiation handling operation site. By this arrangement, even in theradiation handling operation site, display content equivalent to that inthe central management section can be provided to assist understandingof the content of the instruction.

[0058] It is also possible to provide beanie light in the radiationhandling operation site to monitor entry of the worker not permitted toenter into the radiation handling operation site for alarming bybidirectional communication. By this, unnecessary entry of the workinghaving no permission into the radiation handling operation site can besuccessfully prevented.

[0059] With the construction set forth above, the radiation handlingoperation side can be monitored in real time in the management sectionoutside of the radiation management zone.

[0060]FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of display of radiationhandling operation monitoring on the monitoring unit 27 in the centralmanagement section. In FIG. 5, positions of respective radiationhandling workers and the foreman A to H are derived from the CAD data 80of the nuclear reactor construction in the nuclear reactor building 30for identifying the workers and the foreman A to H at respectivepositions to display and to display respective accumulated exposureamount on the display screen. On the other hand, a dose equivalent ratedistribution 81 (also referred to radiation distribution map 81) isedited on the basis of actual exposure data of the worker to identifyexposure level in step levels. Conventionally, collection of theradiation distribution data was managed by measuring the radiationhandling management staff member before radiation handling operation.However, in this method, management based on real radiation distributionvarying according to progress of radiation handling operation cannot beperformed. In the shown embodiment, the condition of radiation handlingoperation can be monitored in real time in the central managementsection. When the worker unnecessarily approach high level radiationarea, it becomes possible to directly transmit the worker per se or tonotify the condition through the foreman.

[0061] The management staff member in the central management section isnot required to constantly monitor abnormality but can take a method totransmit a voice message and/or display image by an abnormalitymonitoring software on a computer. When possible approach of the workerto the high level radiation area on the radiation distribution map orentry of the worker into the high level radiation area is detected bythe abnormality monitoring software, alarm may be generated. On theother hand, even when the exposure trend data of each individual workermay exceed the exposure management value in view of variation amount,alarm is also generated.

[0062]FIG. 6 is an illustration showing an example of display in thecase where information is transmitted to the foreman in the radiationhandling operation site. The movable monitoring unit 28 is provided inthe radiation handling operation site. The foreman carries themonitoring unit 28 to the radiation handling operation site. Themonitoring information is transmitted to the foreman by transmitting theinformation from the closest on-site base station 21 to the monitoringunit 28. By utilizing such monitoring unit 28, detailed workadministration and monitoring of the radiation handling operation can beeffect by the foreman. As such monitoring unit 28, it is desirable touse a portable palm type display unit, such as personal digitalassistant (PDA).

[0063]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration showing an example ofdisplay for monitoring overall nuclear power plant. A boundary betweenthe radiation management zone of the nuclear power plant and the generalzone is a door way gate 83. On the other hand, in the nuclear powerplant 82, as the nuclear reactor buildings 30, there are radiationhandling operation sites identified by (A) to (D). In the shownembodiment of the management system, the radiation handling workerreceives the PHS dose meter at a PHS dose meter supply site 84 in thegeneral zone. At a timing where the worker passes through a door waygate 83, monitoring of the moving route and exposure dose amount isstarted. In the radiation handling operation site, the on-site basestations 21 are arranged at appropriate positions so as to permitmonitoring of activity of the worker. As set forth above, when thesignal from the PHS dose meter is received at a plurality of on-sitebase stations 21, the position of the worker is derived on the basis ofsignal intensity ratio of the signals received at respective on-sitebase stations 21 for displaying trace in time series. In FIG. 7, themoving route of the worker is shown by arrow to know the moving routealong which the worker moves. Therefore, while entry into the radiationhandling operation site is typically permitted for only workers havingpermission, entry into the site where entry permission is not required,can also be monitored by the shown system. Accordingly, for entry intoan entry inhibited site or a site not given permission, entry inhibitingbeanie light or the like is actuated by the central management sectionusing bidirectional communication to notify the condition to the workerper se or other surrounding workers. This condition can also be easilyknown in the central management section by alarm generated by themonitoring unit. Thus, in the shown system, real time management of thezone passing information or entry information can be easily realized.

[0064]FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an example of display of a result ofmonitoring of the accumulated exposure amount per work group. In theshown example, without displaying the on-side base stations respectivelypositioned at appropriate positions, total exposure amounts ofrespective work groups (A) to (D) are displayed with different colorsdepending upon exposure levels. The total exposure amount can be easilyaggregated, and the total exposure amount is displayed by color coding86. For each operation, programmed exposure dose amount is set. If theprogrammed exposure dose amount can be exceeded, the information isautomatically notified to the foreman from the central managementsection. In the conventional management section, total exposure doseamount per work group can be measured only after exiting through thedoor way gate, namely after end of operation. In contrast to this, withthe shown system, the total exposure dose amount can be managed in realtime. On the other hand, by preparing detailed database of eachoperation, operation process management in consideration of reduction ofexposure amount of radiation handling operation and effective work plancan be established.

[0065] Another embodiment of the present invention will be discussed interms of nuclear medicine medical cite with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.It should be noted that the shown system can applicable for variousradiation handling facilities.

[0066]FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a nuclear medicine medicalsite. Around medical device 90 or control unit 91, there is leakageradiation. When distribution of leakage radiation is clear, exposuredosage of the doctors and nurses can be reduced. In the shownembodiment, in various positions in a facility where the medical device90 is installed, the on-side base stations 21 are arranged, and doctorsand nurses carry the PHS dose meters to perform exposure management torealize detailed exposure management. FIG. 10 is a plan view of anexample of display of exposure monitoring. Positions 94 of the doctorsand nurses and their moving routes 95 can be displayed together withpreliminarily measured leakage radiation distribution 93. In someoccasion, radioactive material can be dosed to a patient by the nuclearmedicine medical apparatus, the environmental radiation distribution canbe varied from time to time. By the shown system, the varying radiationdistribution can be measured in real time to permit the doctor and thenurses to see the condition in real time. Therefore, it becomes possibleto prevent the doctors and nurses to enter into the site where leakageradiation level is high to enable lowering exposure dose amount. In themonitoring unit of the shown system, when the doctor or nurse unwantedlyapproach the inhibited site, alarm may be generated automatically.

[0067] A further embodiment of the present invention will be discussedwith reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 is an illustration showing aconstruction of a system, in which a nuclear power generation site islinked with an external organization through the internet, telephonecircuit or the like. In the nuclear power generation sites A to C,nuclear power plants 100, a contractor 101 of the radiation handlingoperation, such as plant maker or the like, business organization 102,such as a site electric power company are present. Headquarters 104 ofcontractors A to C of the radiation handling work, headquarters 105 ofbusiness organizations A to C, disaster control center 106 of nationalgovernment and/or local government, central registration center 107 andso forth, as external organization of the nuclear power generation sideare connected through the internet 103, the telephone circuit or thelike. In the nuclear power generation site, monitoring information canbe seen through the PHS circuit network set forth above. In this system,upon emergency or as required, the condition of operation in theradiation handling operation site can be monitored in real time fromrespective external organization. For example, from the headquarter 105of the business organization A, monitoring of the information of theradiation handling operation site and providing of instruction foroperation can be performed by bidirectional communication through thetelephone circuit 112→network circuit 103→telephone circuit 111. On theother hand, from the headquarter 104 of the contractor A, monitoring ofthe information of the radiation handling operation site and providingof instruction for operation can be performed by bidirectionalcommunication through the telephone circuit 113→network circuit103→telephone circuit 114. Upon emergency, link is established with thedisaster control center 106 of the national government and/or the localgovernment. While information transmission line to the centralregistration center 107 is eliminated from illustration, exposure dosehistory data of each individual worker can be transmitted to the centralregistration center 107. By the shown embodiment of the systemconstructed as set forth above, wide area and quick informationtransmission which cannot be achieved conventionally, can be realized.

[0068]FIG. 12 is an illustration showing a construction where theradiation handling facility other than the nuclear power generation siteis linked with the external organization through the internet, thetelephone circuit or the like. As general radiation handling facilitiesother than the nuclear power generation site, there are radiologicaltreatment facility, i.e. inspection facility, in a hospital, radiationhandling facility of company or university, laboratories, localgovernment and so forth. While discussion for information transmissionlines are eliminated, even in these organization or facility, it becomespossible to establish information transmission system with the externalorganization, such as the central registration center, disaster controlcenter of the national government and/or the local government, theheadquarter of the company, a central office of university and so forth.

[0069] In the shown embodiment, by real time communication between thePHS dose meter and the central management section, in the centralmanagement section outside of the management zone, the exposure dosecondition of each work group can be detected to permit aggregationmanagement of the exposure dose amount per work group in real time.Monitoring of emergency or erroneous operation and providing instructioncan be performed in real time. On the other hand, since the moving routeor condition of the worker can be seen in time series to permit detailedradiation handling operation analysis and to facilitate planning of theradiation handling operation plan for the next time with reduction ofexposure and improving work efficiency.

[0070] With the present invention, monitoring of the radiation handingsite can be done from outside of the radiation management zone in realtime and can directly provide instruction to the worker on the radiationhandling site as required. Thus, reliable and highly useful radiationhandling management system can be provided.

[0071] Although the present invention has been illustrated and describedwith respect to exemplary embodiment thereof, it should be understood bythose skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes,omission and additions may be made therein and thereto, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore,the present invention should not be understood as limited to thespecific embodiment set out above but to include all possibleembodiments which can be embodied within a scope encompassed andequivalent thereof with respect to the feature set out in the appendedclaims.

[0072] For instance, the system construction of the present invention isnot limited to particular radiation handling facility, such as nuclearpower plant or the like and can establish information transmission inwide area with the external organization through the telephone circuitand internet. In the shown system construction, condition of theradiation handling operation site can be recognized in real time byaccess to the external organization. On the other hand, as required,radiation handling operation management providing instruction to thesite can be performed in real time.

[0073] Also, while the present invention has been discussed in terms ofthe preferred embodiment employing PHS as communication equipment, anyappropriate communication systems, such as Bluetooth system, Cellularphone system, wireless LAN system and so forth may also be employed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A radiation handling operation management systemcomprising: monitoring unit receiving an exposure dose amount measuredby an electronic exposure dose meter having a radiation detector, itscounter circuit and a PHS transmission and reception antenna, from aplurality of transmission and reception base station installed in aradiation handling operation site through bidirectional communicationwith a central management section via an external management basestation, and deriving position of user of said electronic exposure dosemeter for collecting and displaying position and exposure dose amount ofthe user.
 2. An electronic exposure dose meter comprising: a radiationdetector; a counter circuit counting a radiation detection signal fromsaid radiation detector; a PHS antenna for bidirectional communicationwith a central management section; and means for generating an alarm inresponse to an instruction signal transmitted from said centralmanagement section.
 3. A radiation handling operation management systemcomprising: monitoring unit deriving a position of a user of anelectronic exposure dose meter by receiving an exposure dose amountmeasured by said electronic exposure dose meter and transmitted througha plurality of transmission and reception base station, on the basis ofreception signals output from said plurality of transmission andreception base station, and storing said position, said exposure doseamount and date and time with correspondence therebetween.
 4. Anelectronic exposure dose meter as set forth in claim 2, wherein saidelectronic exposure dose meter generates an alarm, such as audiblealarm, vibration and so on the basis of information transmitted fromsaid central management section via said management base station.
 5. Anelectronic exposure dose meter as set forth in claim 2, which furthercomprises an external input switch for notifying abnormality to saidcentral management section.
 6. A radiation handling operation managementsystem as set forth in claim 1 or 3, wherein a display unit installed insaid central management section displays a position of user of eachelectronic exposure dose meter at the radiation handling operation side,a moving route and accumulated exposure dose amount of each individualor particular group on the basis of collected data of the position ofthe individual user of the electronic exposure dose meter or a pluralityof users of the electronic exposure dose meters.
 7. A radiation handlingoperation management system as set forth in claim 1 or 3, wherein theposition of user of each electronic exposure dose meter or moving routeof the user is displayed on the basis of a CAD data of the radiationhandling facility.
 8. A radiation handling operation management systemas set forth in claim 1 or 3, wherein a display unit installed in saidcentral management section displays a radiation dose rate distributionin the radiation handling operation site on the basis of collected dataof the position of the individual user of the electronic exposure dosemeter or a plurality of users of the electronic exposure dose meters. 9.A radiation handling operation management system as set forth in claim 1or 3, which further comprises a non-site display unit in said radiationhandling operation site to display information equivalent to a displaycontent of a display unit installed in said central management section.10. A radiation handling operation management system as set forth inclaim 1 or 3, which further comprises a beanie light provided in saidradiation handling operation site for generating an alarm upon entry ofworker having no permission to enter into the radiation handlingoperation site to monitor through bidirectional communication.
 11. Aradiation handling operation management system as set forth in claim 1or 3, wherein the radiation handling site and different externalorganization are connected through internet or telephone circuit formonitoring condition of radiation handling operation of the radiationhandling operation site and providing instruction with a computer and adisplay unit provided in said external organization.
 12. A radiationhandling operation management system as set forth in claim 11, whichdirectly provides instruction for operation to a management section ofparticular site or radiation handling operation site through saidinternet or telephone circuit.
 13. A radiation handling operationmanagement system comprising: monitoring unit receiving an exposure doseamount measured by an electronic exposure dose meter having a radiationdetector, its counter circuit and a wireless communication unit, from aplurality of transmission and reception base station installed in aradiation handling operation site through bidirectional communicationwith a central management section via an external management basestation, and deriving position of user of said electronic exposure dosemeter for collecting and displaying position and exposure dose amount ofthe user.
 14. An electronic exposure dose meter comprising: a radiationdetector; a counter circuit counting a radiation detection signal fromsaid radiation detector; a wireless communication unit for bidirectionalcommunication with a central management section; and means forgenerating an alarm in response to an instruction signal transmittedfrom said central management section.